Ludhiana, December 12
In a barbaric incident, a 50-yr-old man was brutally killed here by an agitated mob. His fault was that a two-and-a-half-year-old girl child was accidentally hit by the motorcycle which his brother Sunil Kumar was riding.

The deceased has been identified as Ashok Kumar, a resident of Civil City. His brother Sunil Kumar, a resident of Deep Nagar, sustained injuries in the incident.

The incident took place this evening outside a marriage palace on Shingar Road where a wedding party had arrived. Ashok Kumar and his Sunil Kumar were riding a motorcycle near Shingar Cinema when suddenly a girl child from the wedding party came in front of their motorcycle and fell on the road. About 15-20 agitated persons came out and started beating up Ashok and Sunil. Ashok fell on the road, but members of the wedding function did not spare him and kept on thrashing him.

On getting the information, police personnel from three police stations reached the spot as there was confusion over the jurisdiction. The police took Ashok to the CMCH where doctors declared brought him dead.

The deceased is survived by two sons and a daughter. The Division Number 2 police nabbed four persons from the spot who had allegedly beaten up the deceased. ACP Ramneesh Chaudhry said a case had been registered at the police station number 6.

20-yr-old commits suicide

Bicku, a 20-year-old migrant from Bihar, committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan here today. Bicku reportedly came to the city around a week ago to receive treatment for some mental disorder. Bicku was staying with his brother Chhikku and mother Meena at Vardhman Colony. Meena said he took the extreme step as he was under severe depression.

Man dies in mishap

A 35-year-old man died under mysterious circumstances at Gill Colony, Lohara, last night. The deceased, Shivlal, was reportedly drunk when he reached his home last night. While opening the gate of his house, a windowpane accidentally broke and the pieces of glass got pierced into his head. He was taken to a nearby hospital by the family members but succumbed to the injuries.

Daba police station has registered a case and is investigating into the matter. Shivlal reportedly had a marital dispute too.

Ludhiana, December 12
There seems to be no end to bumpy ride for city residents as the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation has decided to stop re-carpeting of roads due to dip in mercury.

Every year, when the temperature goes below 15 degrees Celsius, the MC stops the re-carpeting of roads. Several roads in the city are in deplorable condition. Not only the main roads, but even the service lanes are in poor state.

The service lane in Bhai Bala Chowk is full of potholes since the past many months. Most of the bus drivers don’t use this lane and instead stop their vehicles on Ferozepur Road, putting the lives of commuters in danger, besides contributing to traffic congestion.

Even the roads on both sides of Lakkar Bridge on the Civil Lines side, including the one leading to the office of the DIG, Ludhiana Range, are in a poor state. The condition of a slip road at Sessions Chowk (leading to Fountain Chowk) is also pitiable. The roads near Bhadaur House, Society Cinema and in the Old City are also crying for attention.

An MC official said whenever the temperature goes below 15 degrees Celsius, it is not advisable to either construct or re-carpet a road. “Even if we re-carpet or construct any road, its quality suffers due to low temperature. That’s why we don’t re-carpet roads between December and March,” said the official

Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said the roads would not be re-carpeted if the temperature goes below 15 degrees Celsius. “If the temperature is normal, we will re-carpet roads, but it will be done only in case of emergency. Otherwise, the bridges and roads branch of the MC should not carry out any re-carpeting work when the temperature is low because then the quality of roads will suffer,” stated the Mayor.

Ludhiana, December 12
Twenty-two babies were born in the city today on the special date 12-12-12.

At Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Gurvinder Kaur became the proud mother of a son at 6.30 am. She already has three daughters. Her husband Ranbir Singh said: “I am a teacher at a private school in Banga. Earlier, doctors gave us the date of January 5. But due to some complications, my wife was referred to the DMCH yesterday. I am happy that we have been blessed with a son on a very unusual date."

At Christian Medical College and Hospital, three babies were born today. Jagdeep Kaur was blessed with a baby girl at 5.15 am. Dr Tejinder Kaur, gynaecologist, Mohandai Oswal Hospital, said: “Harpreet delivered a baby girl exactly at 12.12 pm. It is her second daughter."

Dr Karamveer Goel, senior medical officer, Lord Mahavir Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, said: "Six babies were born in the hospital today. The first one was a baby girl of Shanti Devi of Latala village at 4.50 am.” Six babies were born at Deep Hospital, said Dr Baldeep Singh.

At Krishna Charitable Hospital, Model Town, Dr Bhawna, consultant gynaecologist, said two babies were born in the hospital today. Two baby girls was also born at Suman Hospital, confirmed Dr Vaani Thapar.

Dr RS Sodhi, MS, Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital said: “Three babies were born in the hospital today.

Veerpal kaur (31) delivered a baby boy after five years of her marriage at Sofat Infertility and Women Care Centre, said Dr Sumita Sofat. The baby was delivered at 12:12 pm today, she added.

Dr Amit Sofat from Dr Rama Sofat Hospital said: "Karamjeet kaur (39), a resident of Amritsar, delivered a baby boy after 12 years."

Dr PS Sidhu, senior medical officer, community health centre, Sahnewal, said: “Two babies were born at the health centre today. One babay was born at 12.12 pm. A baby girl was born at community health centre, Mullanpur.

Ludhiana, December 12
The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) and the Town and Country Planning has set in motion the process for regularisation of 110 marriage palaces in and around the city under the new policy announced by the Punjab Government.

While the field staff of GLADA has been assigned the task of carrying out a physical survey of marriage palaces, owners of marriage palaces have been given one more week to file their documents with the regulatory body so that the cases for regularisation be taken up after approval of building plans as per the provisions laid down in the policy.

GLADA chief administrator Shruti Singh told The Tribune that a delegation of marriage palace owners had met her to seek some time for the submission of documents required for regularisation. "We have given them one more week to file the documents and we intend to complete the physical survey of marriage palaces till then," she said.

Divisional town planner MS Mann, who is supervising the work of physical survey of marriage palaces, said three teams had been formed which would go to each and every marriage palace to take its dimensions, check front and rear set back, parking provisions and other conditions laid down in the policy. "Hopefully, we shall complete the physical survey by the end of this week and submit our report to the GLADA,” he said.

The GLADA chief administrator said on the basis of the survey report, marriage palaces will be categorised into two categories - those which fulfil the laid down conditions and others which require structural or other alterations as per the policy. "Marriage palaces that do not fulfil the conditions will be given a reasonable time to make the alterations before the cases for regularisation are processed," she said.

As per the government policy, the marriage palace owners fulfilling all the conditions for regularisation will have to submit their building plans for approval and make payment of change of land use (CLU) charges stipulated in the policy within a period of three months.

Making it clear that GLADA being the regulatory body was committed to scrupulously implement the policy for marriage palaces in letter and spirit, GLADA officials said it will be in the interest for the marriage palace owners to submit their applications for regularisation as soon as possible because once the deadline is over, the unlawful marriage palaces will not be permitted to operate and premises would be sealed.

Ludhiana, December 12
If everything goes as planned, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation will construct underground reservoirs at Nehru Rose Garden in Civil Lines, Mini Rose Garden in Kidwai Nagar and a park near Cheema Chowk for supplying canal-based water to residents.

A treatment plant will be set up at Sirhand Canal near Doraha to clean the water which will be brought to the city through a 22-km underground pipeline.

To keep a check on the depleting ground water table in the state as well as in the city, the MC is mulling over supplying the water to the city residents and at present a

two-member team of experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, is in the city for conducting a feasibility study of the project.

The team comprises Suresh Chandra, former chief engineer of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam, and Dr AA Kazmi, associate professor, IIT Roorkee.

Accompanied by senior officials of the civic body and state irrigation department today visited the Sirhand Canal near Doraha, Nehru Rose Garden in Civil Lines, Mini Rose Garden in Kidwai Nagar and a park near Cheema Chowk.

An MC official informed that the team members gave a go-ahead to these sites, where ground water tanks might be constructed at a later stage. “Besides, they also visited the Sirhand Canal near Doraha, where the team felt that a treatment plant could be set up for purifying and cleaning the canal water,” said the official.

If the project takes off, the running cost will be much lesser than the existing system of tubewells.

Once a treatment plant is constructed near Doraha, the underground pipeline will first reach the Nehru Rose Garden, which means it will pass through different areas of the city, including Punjab Agricultural University. Once the canal water reaches the underground reservoir in Nehru Rose Garden, the water will then be supplied to other reservoirs to be constructed at Mini Rose Garden and another at a park near Cheema Chowk.

Manjit Singh, Additional Commissioner (technical, operations and maintenance branch) of the MC, confirmed the development.

“Besides, the team members felt that the water should be drawn from Sirhand Canal instead of Sidhwan Canal because water does not flow in Sidhwan Canal all the time whereas the Sirhand Canal never dries up. The project is still at an early stage and next decision on it would be taken after the IIT Roorkee team submits a feasibility report in a week’s time,” said Manjit Singh.

Jagraon, December 12
Irked over the unhygienic conditions of the area, the residents of various localities situated near Bhagwan Valmiki Mandir on the Raikot road staged a protest against the local civic body.

According to the area residents, the sewerage in the area has been blocked for last many days, and despite their repeated requests the authorities had paid no attention towards the problem.

During a visit to the area, it was found that the streets in the area were flooded with sewage water. The residents feared outbreak of an epidemic if the problem was not addressed at the earliest.

"We have to face many difficulties due to the sewage water on the streets of our localities. Its presence in front of our houses has made our lives a virtual hell," rued Narain Singh, a resident.

"This sewage water keeps stinking all the time due to which we have to face a lot of embarrassment when our relatives visit us," said Geeta, another area resident.

The residents held the lethargic attitude adopted by the municipal council responsible for the problem. "We have been demanding the municipal council to clean the chocked sewerage for a long time but nothing concrete has been done to solve this problem," said Roop Kumar.

The protesting residents threatened to block the Raikot road if their demand was not met within a given period of time.

MC president Baldev Krishan Dhir said that the civic body had already started the work of laying new sewerage pipes on the Raikot road, which would solve the problem. He assured that the ongoing project would be completed very soon.

Ludhiana, December 12
Income Tax Employees Federation and Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association today went on a strike demanding merger of DA with pay for all purposes including pension with effect from January 1, 2011.

Rajiv Puri, convenor of Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association, said they also demanded the removal of restrictions imposed on compassionate appointments and bringing to an end the discrimination between the railway workers and other central government employees during such appointments.

They also demanded the filling of vacant posts and creation of new posts according to the functional requirements.

"Stop downsizing, outsourcing, corporatisation and privatisation of governmental functions. We also demand that five promotions should be ensured for all employees," added Rajiv Puri.

Jagraon, December 12
The Health Department organised “nukkar nataks” and seminars to spread awareness on tuberculosis in schools in Jagraon and surrounding villages.

Dr RK Karkra, senior medical officer at the local civil hospital, said a team of doctors of the hospital apprised schoolchildren and the public of the causes, preventive measures and treatment of tuberculosis.

A team of artistes from Lokai Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, staged a street play —Jado Jaago Udo Sawera — directed by Amandeep Kaur Bhogal at the Government Senior Secondary School for Girls.

Following this, a team of doctors including Dr Kishan Singh, Dr Vijay Sharma and TB supervisor Dr Akshit Joshi apprised the school students of various symptoms of the disease and told them not to take prolonged cough lightly.

Dr Surinder Singh advised the attendees to avoid taking medicines from quacks, as it might lead to serious health hazards.

"Around 5,000 people contract tuberculosis everyday in our country. To prevent the disease from spreading further people should immediately contact doctors in their respective areas," said Dr Akshit Joshi.

Ludhiana, December 12
A team that will be choosing the best police station visited Kotwali police station here today.

The team was headed by Dr HK Tiwari, and comprising of Rachna Sharma, Shruti Jain, Raman Kaushal and Rajiv Singh Chauhan.

It will be judging and declaring the best police station on behalf of Globus Altus.

The organisation carries out this exercise throughout the country.

The best police stations are chosen on the basis of community orientation, physical condition of the police station, detention conditions and treatment, transparency and accountability.

On this occasion, Police Commissioner Ishwar Singh and ACP (North) Swapan Sharma also interacted with the visiting team members.

Jagraon, December 12
Some unidentified persons robbed a salesman of Rs 5,000, valuables worth Rs 20,000 and a motorcycle near Lakha village.

Rajesh Kumar, who works as a salesman with Moga-based Goel Telecom Agency, had reportedly come to collect money from retailers in neighbouring villages.

In his complaint to the police, Rajesh Kumar alleged that when he was returning to Moga on his motorcycle after collecting the money, four unidentified youths riding on two motorcycles stopped him near Gurdwara Mehdiana Sahib outside Lakha village and snatched his bag.

The bag was containing Rs 5,000, 200 SIM cards of Tata Docomo, recharge coupons worth Rs 5,000, two mobile internet devices and some other valuables, he reported.

According to the complainant, the robbers had covered their faces. The robbers also took away his Hero Honda motorcycle Rajesh Kumar reported. The victim, however, managed to reach Hathur town and informed the police about the incident, following which a case was registered.

Investigating officer ASI Sukhwinder said the police was conducting raids to nab the accused.

More than 10 incidents of snatching and robbery have been reported in the rural belt of Jagraon since November 1.

Ludhiana, December 12
The Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) while criticising the Union Government for the delay in announcement of minimum support price (MSP) of wheat has rejected the proposal for Rs 40 per quintal bonus on wheat procurement.

BKU president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal stated that as per the recommendations of Dr Swaminathan Committee, the MSP of wheat should be fixed at Rs 2,250 per quintal which would barely cover the increased cost of inputs.

He claimed that due to a hike in cost of farm inputs, the farmers had to bear an additional financial burden of Rs 1,200 crore which called for proportionate increase in the MSP of wheat.

Lakhowal said the state committee of the BKU had called for an uninterrupted eight-hour power supply during daytime for the agriculture sector. "Despite tall claims of the government and the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited authorities, there is no fix schedule for power supply to the tubewells," he added.

The BKU chief asked the PSPCL management to clear all tubewell connections lying pending for more than 12 years.

The members urged the government to ensure that adequate quantity of chemical fertilisers was made available well in time to the farmers and the vested interests did not exploit the situation by creating artificial scarcity.

Lakhowal slams govt over lawlessness

BKU supremo Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, who also heads the Punjab Mandi Board, and is supposedly a strong ally of the ruling SAD-B, expressed concern over the incidents of violence and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Without being specific, he said the law enforcement machinery ought to deal sternly with anti-social elements and and criminals.

Ludhiana, December 12
In a bid to create awareness on AIDS among the rural population, folk artistes left for their respective destinations in information, education and communication (IEC) vans of the Punjab State AIDS Control Society and National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

Gurinder Sekhon from Poonam Kala Manch, Patiala, said, "We receive an overwhelming response from villagers, however, women prefer to stay away from such shows while men make it a point to be a part of these programmes."

Another artiste Baljeet said,"As women do not turn up for the shows, we visit them at their houses and talk to them."

Ravinder Ravi from Tara Arts Group, Chandigarh, said,"I have been working for the cause for the past two years. Villagers are very cooperative and keen on knowing about AIDS. Things have improved over the years at these places. I am hopeful of receiving a good response this time too."

Dr US Sooch, nodal officer, Ludhiana, for the Red Ribbon Express for Ludhiana, said, "The Punjab State AIDS Control Society, Chandigarh, and National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), have roped in folk artistes for spreading awareness on AIDS among the residents of various villages."

Ludhiana, December 12
Members of the Knitwear Club and Federation of Punjab Small Industries Association met Sumit Bose, Secretary, Revenue, Ministry of Finance, and took up their problems with him.

The following are the issues that were highlighted during the meeting.

Central excise registration

The Central Excise Registration was optional for yarn manufacturers. However, all yarn manufacturers were not having the Central Excise Registration. This had resulted in loss of CENVAT on raw-material for knitwear. It was suggested that either the registration should be made optional for knitwear or it should be made mandatory for yarn manufacturers.

Import duty on bicycle

Import duty on bicycle and parts be enhanced to at least 40 per cent. Imported bicycle should be fixed at more than Rs 150 per kg which will help arrest the cheap imports.

Excise duty

The imposition of excise duty on readymade garments in the Union Budget 2011 was a big shocker and proved to be an unnecessary burden on the manufacturer. The industry is facing a threat from garments imported from China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Due to a huge scale of production and support from the government, their products are much cheaper as compared to our products.

TUFS

From the allotted funds for TUFS, 50 per cent should be kept reserved for the SME sector as the bigger and organised units take maximum benefit out of it and till the time SMEs get ready after documentation, funds for them lapse.

Absence of exhibition centre

The industry holds various events and exhibitions every year, but due to the absence of an exhibition centre it is facing problems. In the absence of a stable and spacious place, industrialists have to put up temporary set-ups to organise the events and exhibitions which consume both time and money.

Bank interests

Ludhiana, December 12
Students and teachers have welcomed the Central Board of Secondary Education’s move to digitise the marking of answer sheets of the class X and XII board examinations.

"Although we have not received any detailed notification about the new evaluation system yet, digitisation will make the system more efficient. Not only does it make evaluation faster, it also makes it error-free and needs lesser manpower," said Mona Singh, Principal, Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar.

Amandeep, a student, said that although filling up OMR sheets took a bit of time, the digital system would help in bringing out results a lot faster.

"This is a great step as it would now take lesser time to get the results out. Otherwise, we have to wait long for results after the class XII exams before taking admission to colleges," said Rohini, another student. 

Ludhiana, December 12
Students of Vajra Army School presented various dance items during the annual function — Medley 2012.

The function commenced with the lighting of lamp by chief guest Brigadier MG Jacob. It was followed by a welcome dance on classical music. The students from junior classes were appreciated for their performance on the "Jungle Song".

The students gave glimpses of different Indian states through their performances. They also presented a mime act on the theme "Every Child is Special". — TNS

Ludhiana, December 12
On the complaint of Sunny Makkar, a resident of Sarabha Nagar, the police has booked a Delhi resident for allegedly selling the former's luxury car. The complainant said one of his friends, Hemant Puri, approached him three months ago asking for his Porsche as he had to attend a wedding.

Makkar had bought it from Allahabad in 2006 and the estimated cost of the car was Rs 16 lakh. On learning that Puri had sold the car, Makkar approached the police and registered a complaint. — TNS

Ludhiana, December 12
Simranjit Kaur, a student of Doraha College of Education, was declared the best athlete during the Inter-College Athletics Meet held from December 7 to 10 at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Simranjit Kaur won a gold medal in high jump and a silver medal in 800m race. Avneet Kaur, another student, overpowered her rivals in the 800m race to win a gold medal. She also won a bronze medal in 100m sprint.

The relay team comprising Simranjit Kaur, Rupinder Kaur, Amanpreet Kaur and Gurmeet Kaur secured the second position.

Dr Sandeep Sahwney, principal of Doraha College of Education, congratulated the girls and Devinder Singh, lecturer, physical education.

Ludhiana, December 12
Athletes of Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, secured the second position in the annual Panjab University Inter-College Athletics Championship that concluded in Chandigarh yesterday.